Newly unemployed splotchy pundit Bill O'Reilly has some extra time on his hands in the wake of his firing from Fox News.
His ouster follow years of claims he sexually harassed female associates, and a New York Times report on how Fox paid $13 million to settle sexual harassment suits against O'Reilly. The last straws, of course, were these shocking allegations.
Multiple groups have made statements praising his departure from the conservative news channel, but the group UltraViolet said O'Reilly — whom they called a "predator, a bigot," and a "misogynist" should have been let go from the network long ago.
"For years, Fox News executives, like Bill Shine, have provided cover for systematic sexual harassment and abuse of Fox New’s employees. From Roger Ailes to Bill O’Reilly, Fox News has consistently failed to provide a workplace safe from sexual harassment and abuse - and that’s a big problem," said Shaunna Thomas, cofounder of UltraViolet.
“The fact that Fox News is only taking action against O’Reilly after an investigation revealed that they could be defrauding shareholder by not revealing payments made to cover up the abuse, isn’t lost on anyone. The first accusations of sexual assault lobbed against Bill O’Reilly at Fox News were made more than 13 years ago.”
Tampa Bay residents may know that O'Reilly is coming to town with his pal Dennis Miller in tow for a, er, performance at Straz Center Amalie Arena in September.
Straz Center Amalie Arena officials would not confirm whether the show is close to selling out or not.
But some activists are hoping that the show doesn't take place at all.
This Care2 petition aims to get several O'Reilly appearances canceled, including the Tampa one.
Other targets include the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore and New York's NYCB Theatre.
